Toenail Fungus: Is there a cure for it?

Nail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is the nightmare for every big buck pedicure. It starts with an almost unnoticeable yellow or white spot on your toenail but as it spreads and goes deeper, it becomes more visible. The fungus will cause your toenails to become thicker, with the edges crumbling, and to discolor – a yellowish taint that looks as if the nail has rotten.

Fortunately, mild case of this common condition does not require treatment. However, if it has made the nail thicker and has grown painful, it has to be treated. You will have to stop it from spreading throughout your feet, and causing other conditions like athlete’s foot to develop. To help your toenail fungus, here are some of the most remedies.

Traditional Medication

The go-to for most fungal conditions are nonprescription products that you can research or ask your doctor about, but if those do not work, some of the other traditional drugs prescribed are listed below. You can try one or combine it with another product to increase the potency.

Oral antifungal medication

What this drug aims to do is grow a completely new and healthy nail to replace the one which was infected by the fungus. It takes 2 to 3 months for the product to work, and you won’t see how effective it is until the new nail grows fully.

Antifungal nail polish

This takes longer to take effect than oral medication because it takes at least year of use before you can see visible effects and to really kill the fungi. To use the product, you’ll have to paint your infected nails with the product daily, adding a new coat over the previous day after day. On the 7th day, you’ll wipe away all the layers with alcohol, and start a fresh batch of layers.

Antifungal nail cream

The thinner the nail upon application, the better the results, so it’s best soak your nails first in water, then apply the cream to the infected nails. This is often prescribed along with other topical creams to hasten the removal of the fungus.

Apart from these, there are also home remedies you can try like soaking your feet in cornmeal paste or dabbing tea tree oil to the infected toenails. These are fairly cheap and accessible alternatives to the treatments mentioned above.